Thursday, February 5, 2009

New Licensing Partnership Gives Customers Easy Access to Unprecedented Footage From the Leader in Chimpanzee Protection

The Jane Goodall Institute, the leader in protecting endangered chimpanzees, has chosen Getty Images, the world's leading creator and distributor of visual content and other digital media, as the exclusive distributor of unique footage captured by the Institute's renowned videographer Bill Wallauer. For the first time, creative professionals have immediate access to unprecedented footage of wild chimpanzees, allowing them to create high-impact visual communications that address environmental stewardship, species protection and other pressing conservation topics.

For more than 15 years, Bill Wallauer has documented the wild chimpanzees of Gombe National Park in Tanzania, capturing dramatic and fascinating footage of their daily life. Both his talent and passion for wildlife videography have made Bill a highly acclaimed videographer, recognized by film production companies around the world. Bill has served as camera operator and scientific advisor to more than 30 productions including Animal Planet’s Chimp Week and Discovery’s award-winning series, Planet Earth.

"Bill Wallauer's footage is nothing short of extraordinary as he captures never-before-seen images of chimpanzees in the wild -- laughing, holding hands and hugging," said Bill Johnston, president of the Jane Goodall Institute. "The similarities between human and chimpanzee behavior are remarkable. We're delighted to have Getty Images as a partner to help us show the world how like us chimpanzees really are."

The Jane Goodall Institute, a recognized global leader in chimpanzee behavioral research, has transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals, and worked tirelessly to preserve chimpanzees and their habitats. Through its innovative and groundbreaking research, the Institute has captured extensive footage of life among wild chimpanzees, including births, dominance displays, their mysterious “rain dances” and encounters with other wildlife. The Institute’s collection complements Getty Images’ offering of rights-ready commercial-quality footage that Getty Images customers look for—exclusive content that is of high production value and available through simple, cost-effective pricing across several flexible-use categories.